Good day to you, wherever you are in the world!
Books
This month I overhauled my life: moved to a new state, started a new job, ended a relationship, and began sharing space in a house with my brother. Consequently, my regular reading time was devoted to other activities. I did, however, find time to listen to On the Psychology of Military Incompetence by Dr. Norman F. Dixon.
The book presents a fascinating blend of history, psychology, leadership, and lessons. Like Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 and Colonel David Hackworth’s About Face, On the Psychology of Military Incompetence offers a glimpse into what happens when people choose to live in a selective reality (spoiler alert: people die, LOTS of people die). Looking into the lens of the past from our vantage point allows us to witness how various refusals to accept reality led to multiple wars and countless/needless deaths.
To me, it highlighted the importance of keeping an open mind and contending with the facts on the ground instead of insisting “it’s not supposed to be like this!” And so, I’m leaning into the practice of accepting new information and allowing it to guide my choices. It’s liberating to face a challenging, yet undesirable, set of circumstances with a flexible mindset. I don’t need to make the “right” choice, just the best choice given the information I had at the time. The more information I can gather, the more easily I can select a course of action.
Beats
Now that I’m living in Florida, I’m listening to more Afro-Cubano music. Arsenio Rodrigues is holding my heart at the moment. Love the ensemble.
Barbells
I’ve been working a lot with kettlebells and clubs again. Scott Sonnon and his protegé, Summer Huntington, are experts in movement and loading. This month, I offer one of Summer’s tutorials on alignment–it’s a fantastic workout preparation video (and inspiring, as Summer was in her third trimester while filming the video).
Peace and love,
Kit
Find the balance. 